The European Union might well cease to exist before we’ve even had a chance to leave it…that would be ironic
Sun columnist Rod Liddle on why the EU may not live to see Brexit and the misery of English football
SO – do you reckon we’re going to leave the European Union, then?
I’ve got my doubts. I know we had that wonderful vote last week — and there are luvvies across the country sobbing their little Remain hearts out.
Tough, that’s democracy. Man up and get used to it, you big jessies.
But still I’m not convinced we’re actually on the way out. And I’ll tell you why.
I don’t think Europe wants us to go, despite all the rhetoric.
There are luvvies across the country sobbing their little Remain hearts out
And I don’t think Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are too keen on the idea, either — despite the fact they led the Leave campaign.
Because here’s the thing. The unelected European Union bureaucrats certainly want us out.
The vile Luxembourgish President Jean-Claude Juncker loathes Britain for its long-standing opposition to greater integration.
He has a plan for Europe which involves the complete removal of the nation state. Fair enough, I suppose, if your nation state is as pitiful and third rate as Luxembourg. So he’s talking tough.
And so is the sneery Pole, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. And quite a lot of those
MEPs, the ones who Ukip leader Nigel Farage harangues every week in Brussels.
That’s because they are all part of the fatuous project.
Their jobs depend upon a strong European Union. An EU which needs to grow ever larger and acquire for itself even more powers.
Buoyed by the UK’s venture into democracy, citizens across Europe — from Athens to Amsterdam — are now demanding their right to have an In-Out referendum
But the mood among the continent’s PROPER politicians, not the gravy-train nonentities in Brussels, is very different.
Even the Germans are making quiet overtures to us about the need for a nice, friendly trade deal.
They are all scared stiff of two things. Firstly, we buy a lot more from the EU than we sell.
The European countries depend upon us as a huge market for their goods. They don’t want that jeopardised under any conditions. Especially not the Germans.
And secondly, and most importantly — they fear the complete disintegration of the EU.
Because buoyed by the UK’s venture into democracy, citizens across Europe — from Athens to Amsterdam — are now demanding their right to have an In-Out referendum.
There are now pleas for a staggering 34 referendums on all manner of EU topics. If just ONE of them takes place it would probably mean the end of the EU. In France, where anti-EU sentiment is growing.
Or in Sweden, where they are sick of being swamped by migrants. Or the Netherlands, which once embodied the liberal European ideal. Not any more.
So it is entirely possible in this climate that the Conservative Government will get the concessions it previously wanted. Greater security over our borders. A limit on the previously non-negotiable “freedom of movement” within Europe.
And more than this — a reform of the EU. Its bureaucracy cut down. Its meddling in state affairs curtailed. Idiots like Juncker given the boot.
Either that or the European Union might well cease to exist before we’ve even had a chance to leave it.
That would be ironic, no?
Either way, this issue is far from cut and dried.
Curse of the three £ions
REMEMBER the misery of watching England at tournaments in the past and thinking – can it get any worse than this? It just did.
The very worst of them all. An abject defeat to a country the size of a medium-size English city and counts football as its third favourite sport. Iceland.
The blond-headed puffin-munchers were better than us in all departments.
England manager Roy Hodgson has gone – rightly. He was awful at the Brazil World Cup and even worse at the Euros. Devoid of charisma or the ability to get anything like the best out of his players.
Tactically inept, unsure what his best team was, persisting with failed tactics.
The blond-headed puffin-munchers were better than us in all departments
But his players were no better. Dull and witless in attack. And the defence? Christ help us. One high ball in the box and that’s us done for.
And behind this inept and gutless defence, which cannot close down or challenge crosses, the great colossus which is Joe Hart. But hapless Hart is not the root of our problems. And nor, if we’re honest, is hopeless Hodgson. The root of the problem? Money.
The players are over-rewarded, financially. Their clubs come first and the national team doesn’t get a look in.
And I’m not sure they care about playing for their country.
They are short of commitment and resolve – they think they are absolutely brilliant when, obviously enough, they are anything but. They are s**t, but they don’t know they are. The foreign managers don’t like them playing for the national teams, in case they get injured.
Because of the money sloshing around at the highest level the national team comes last in any order of priorities.
I would make Alan Shearer the next manager but they won’t...they’ll put in some pliant, clueless gimp.
And then when they do play for England, they think they’re the bee’s knees. They think they are BETTER than everyone else because they get £300,000 per week.
They think that simply to stroll out there is enough.
Well, as Iceland – and Slovakia and Russia – showed them, it really ISN’T enough.
And the FA always appoints nice, congenial people to be England manager, people like Woy.
And Gareth Southgate, who they are considering as interim manager. Exactly the opposite of what’s needed.
That’s why they never appointed Jackie Charlton or Brian Clough.
They need someone who might frighten the horses a little, but they won’t do that.
I would make Alan Shearer the next manager because at least the resolve is there.
related stories
But they won’t do it. They’ll put in some pliant, clueless gimp.
So don’t think that game against Iceland was the worst possible . . . there’s probably more to come.
—A CHURCH of England school has ditched the Christian cross from its logo in case it offends people.
The school, in Huddersfield, has replaced the cross with an oak tree because oak trees “represent many beliefs”, according to the headmaster.
No they don’t, you bearded, cowardly halfwit. Oak trees don’t represent anything.
Nobody worships oak trees, pleasant though they undoubtedly are.
OK, maybe squirrels worship oak trees. But that’s about it.
The parents are furious, as they should be. I think we’ve all had enough of cringing political correctness.
And being forced to apologise for the stuff in which we believe.
NO SEX UNDER COVERS
AT last, undercover cops have been told they can have sex whilst on the job, so to speak.
But only if their lives are endangered.
These are new rules for officers infiltrating weird cults of soap-dodging eco-loons, jihadi maniacs, people traffickers etc.
Have to say, I’ve used that excuse on occasion.
“I had to shag her, love. I’m sorry, but I felt my life was in great danger. She was mental. She kept waving a pair of scissors around.
“Still, at least I’m safe now. Onwards and upwards.
“Is dinner ready?”
—NOW I’ve really heard it all. NHS workers in the south of England are to be given COUNSELLING to help them get over the grief of the UK voting to leave the European Union.
Paid for by you and me, I suppose.
NHS nurses are to receive counselling to cope with the referendum result
I’ll counsel them for nowt, if they want, by slapping them across the face with a wet fish.
I’ve never heard so much whining in all my life. It was a vote. Remain lost. And its caterwauling supporters should be told – you can’t always get what you want.